Yaqeen Grants (Pakistan)

• Eligibility Criteria:   Be an independent digital news media organization based in Pakistan.
• Type of Funding: Grant
• Target Region: Asia
• Application Language: English

Applications are now open for the Yaqeen Grant, designed to support independent digital news media organizations in building stronger business models and developing sustainable revenue streams. This initiative aims to help media outlets become more resilient, innovative, and financially sustainable.

The Yaqeen Grant is a small-scale funding opportunity offered under the Yaqeen Media Viability Fund to support innovative projects that strengthen the financial sustainability of independent digital media in Pakistan. The grant is provided by International Media Support (IMS) and implemented by Freedom Network.

Thematics

Ideas that can be supported by this grant:

• Development and execution of business plans, business strategies and organisational growth plans
• Experimentation with new revenue streams or efforts to grow existing revenue streams
• Building or improving technical infrastructure for revenue generation and/or community development
• New product prototypes or services with a clearly defined link to user needs, income generation and audience growth

Ideas that will not be supported:

• Ideas that are only about content production, such as the publication of a new series of stories, content or podcasts
• Ideas that involve training workshops for journalists or other community segments
• Ideas that only focus on purchase of production equipment

Eligibility 

To be considered for the Yaqeen Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be an independent digital news media organization based in Pakistan.
• Must not be part of a legacy media group (print or broadcast) by association or ownership.
• Have been operational and publishing regularly for at least the past 12 months.
• Must not have received a Yaqeen grant in the past two grant cycles.
• Have a demonstrable audience through website or platform analytics.
• Be legally registered or in the process of registration.
• Commit to assigning two staff members to lead the proposed project.
• Submit a complete application including responses to all required fields and a basic project budget.

Preference will be given to organizations that:

• Demonstrate a clear commitment to public interest journalism.
• Demonstrate a clear need for viability support.
• Show prior efforts toward revenue generation or business innovation.
• Have women in leadership roles.
• Represent under-served regions or marginalized communities.
• Submit a clear and realistic proposal for financial sustainability or revenue generation

Interested applicants can apply using this online application form no later than May 31, 2026.